Gov. Jared Polis walked through Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation in Colorado Springs on Monday, checking out a 15,000-square-foot addition built to grow the region's aerospace and defense workforce training. The visit put a spotlight on a campus that already teaches skills ranging from cybersecurity to AI and autonomy, just as Colorado's defense-tech sector keeps expanding around Colorado Springs' Space Force presence.
Polis toured the facility on Monday, according to KDVR, which reported that a 15,000-square-foot expansion was underway at the campus. Fox21 News reported that Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera attended a ribbon-cutting for the expanded facilities on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
Whatever the exact timeline, the expansion is meant to deepen what the campus already offers. The station's report describes training in software and application development, modeling and simulation, AI and autonomy, data science and data engineering, sensors and edge computing, and cybersecurity — a lineup aimed squarely at the kind of technical workforce that aerospace and defense employers are chasing.
A Tax Credit Behind the Build-Out
Per the same account, the expansion was made possible through Colorado's Opportunity Now Tax Credit, which the state says supports talent development in advanced industries including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, infrastructure, and semiconductors. Opportunity Now investments, the report notes, are intended to help Colorado employers build a skilled workforce so they can stay competitive and grow the economy.
The projected payoff carries slightly different wording depending on the outlet. KDVR reported that Polis said the investment will help create and retain 700 aerospace and defense jobs over the next 15 years, while Fox21 News described the same investment as expected to help train and retain 700 jobs over that span. Either way, officials are framing the expanded facility as a way to strengthen Colorado's position as a hub for national security technology innovation.
Polis Touts Aerospace Momentum Before Leaving Office
During the visit, Polis said Colorado is the national leader in innovative aerospace technology and has a strong, growing aerospace industry, according to the station's report. The governor is term-limited and will leave office in January 2027, when Governor-elect Phil Weiser is set to be sworn in, making this tour one of Polis's final high-profile stops at a Colorado Springs tech site before the handoff.
The timing lines up with broader industry data. A report from the Colorado Chamber of Commerce found that the state's aerospace and defense industry supports more than 61,000 jobs and contributes over $14 billion to Colorado's gross state product, with employment growing 14.4% from 2020 to 2025 — faster than the national average. The same report found Colorado Springs accounts for 11% of the state's aerospace employment, and it recommended expanding apprenticeships and dual enrollment while strengthening community college partnerships to develop and retain talent in the sector.
Part of a Bigger Campus Build-Up
Catalyst Campus has been adding tenants beyond this latest training expansion. According to ExecutiveBiz, defense contractor Amentum opened a facility at the campus to support work in missile defense, artificial intelligence, cyber operations and space mission support. SoCo Digest's report similarly described continued aerospace and defense investment in Colorado Springs, including growth tied to Space Force and national security operations in the region.
The campus itself has grown considerably since its earlier days. A 2016 article from The Gazette described Catalyst Campus as a string of three buildings at 555-559 E. Pikes Peak Ave. containing 100,000 square feet of workspace, offices, and research and development facilities. A decade later, the latest addition suggests the site is still expanding to keep pace with demand for aerospace and defense training in the region.
